The Insurance Research Council (IRC) reports that chances are about 14 in 100 that, if an insured car occupant is injured in an auto accident in the United States, an uninsured motorist is at fault. If you have been in an auto accident, the at-fault driver's liability insurance and your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorists (UIM) coverage is designed to cover the damages you or your loved ones have suffered. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you can make claims against the other driver as well as against your own UM / UIM carrier for compensation. Many people are reluctant to file a claim against their own insurance company because they are concerned that doing so will increase their insurance rates, but this does not have to happen. Insurance law is a continually evolving field full of complex laws and regulations.

Rich Flexner of The Flexner Law Firm, P.A. is a North Carolina trial attorney with over twenty-five years experience in these cases. We understand the law, client rights and how to work with insurance companies. Whether we're negotiating a fair settlement or fighting in the courtroom, we are equipped to ensure a successful outcome for our clients. We serve the residents of Wilmington, New Hanover County, Wrightsville Beach, Oak Island, Brunswick County, Kure Beach, Pender County, Carolina Beach, Columbus County, Burgaw, Southport, Bladen County, Elizabethtown, Bolivia, Whiteville, and throughout North Carolina.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM / UIM) pays for injuries to you, your spouse, resident relatives and guest passengers in your car when the accident occurred. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage provides protection when an at-fault, uninsured driver causes injury to you or another covered individual. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies you if you are injured by a negligent driver who has too little insurance to pay for your injuries and damages. North Carolina's minimum requirement for auto insurance liability for a private passenger vehicle is $30,000 per person for bodily injury, and $60,000 for two or more people for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Since these are only minimums, higher levels of protection are strongly recommended to protect your assets. An underinsured driver is one whose limits of liability are less than your UIM limits and whose liability policy limit is not enough to cover the losses of the people they injure in an at-fault accident. UIM coverage will pay a maximum of the difference between the other driver's liability limits and your UIM limits. Therefore, it is important to consider raising your UM / UIM limits in order to protect yourself and your family against loss. 

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident where insurance coverage is at issue you should contact an attorney because there may be some coverage you don't know about. Insurance companies also regularly dispute payment of coverage so it is important to discuss this matter with your attorney who will investigate all possible sources of compensation. It is also important to respond with the specific timeframes set by North Carolina's Statutes of Limitations. Call the Flexner Law Firm, P.A. today at: 910-794-3221 or toll-free at: 1-800-FLEXNER or contact us online.

<< Back to Practice Areas